Chicken feeder



July 29, 1924. 1503,335

F. E. ROSE.

CHICKEN FEEDER Filed March 19, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l Rose July 29. 19242. 1,503,335 E. E. ROSE GHIGKEN FEEDER Filed March 19. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 29 1924.

F E. ROSE CHICKEN FEEDER Filed March 19. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I insane entree srarss rarest GFFEQE.

FAY E. ROSE, OF MONTAG-UE, MICHIGAN.

CHICKEN FEEDER.

Application filed March 19, 1923. Serial No. 626,067:

TooZ Z whom it may concern.

Be it known that FAY E. Rosn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Montague, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chicken F eeders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chicken feeder devices and particularly to an apparatus which is entirely automatic in its operation.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus controlled by a time mechanism for operating the same at regular and predetermined intervals.

A further object is to provide an electrically operated mechanism for regularly and. periodically operating the feeder.

Another object is to provide in connection withthe time mechanism, and the operating mechanism for dumping the feed pan, means for automatically returning the pan to its initial position for refilling.

Another object is to provide an audible alarm device controlled by the clock for announcing thetimeof feeding.

Many other objects and features of advantages of the invention will be apparent to. others. upon reference to-the accompany ing specification and drawings.

In the drawings: V Figure lis' afront elevation of the'chick'en feeder; p I

' Figure 2 is arear view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation; Figure l is a front View of the clock' face withthecontact arms removed;

Figure 5 is aview similar to Fig'rire- 1 with the contact arms in position; s

Figure 6 is a rear view of the clock-face; Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the contact arms, and s Figure 8 isa diagram of the wiring circuits.

Figure 9 is V a detail View of the starshaped contact.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of'the notched strip.

Figure 11 is avertical longitudinal sectional view showing the operating mechanism. I 7

Referringnow more particularly to the drawings by numerals of reference, 10 indicatesthe feed holding tank, having a hopper bottom- 11 and a screened removable cover? 12, the front of said tank being pro vided with a vertical slot having a glass or other transparent material window 14, through which the level of the oontentsin said tank may be observed.

Secured to each side wall of the tank 10, and extending a suitable distance below the bottom thereof is a metallic plate 15 formed in proximity to its lower end with a loop or circular strap 16, adapted to'clamp around a dry battery 21, as will be later described. Rigidly secured to the plates 15, below the battery supporting straps, are a pair of downwardly and inwardly convergent arms 18 having terminal eyes l9through which are passed fastening devices for securin to opposite sides of a clock frame 20.

The outlet of the hopper is provided with a gate or valve 22, which is'normally maintained open by gravity to discharge a quantity of feed from the tank into a dump pan 24E, pivotally supported by and intermediate the plates 15, below said hopper, on shafts the tank 10 andthe top of the dump pan 24, when in horizontal or loading position is covered by a strip of chicken wire 26, fastened at its upperedges to said tank. This prevents the chickens from having access to the contents of the an until the same has been dumped at the feeding period.

The pan 2 f, after the contents have been dumped, is automaticall movedto its initial or loading position t roughthe medium of weights28, carriedby the rear end there of, and in which position it'is locked by means of a latch spring 29, having a hooked upper end, 30 which engages a cooperating part on the pan bottom. I

Supported further by and between the lower portions of the plates 15 is a transverse wood or other non-conducting ma.- terial frame, 32, from which dependsanintermediate block 32, of similar material, and

in which latter the inner ends of the dry batteries 21 may have their support.

The depending block 32, carries an upper and lower pair of electro-magnets 35, and '36 respectively, the former being arranged so that their armature attracting ends, are directed toward the rear of theb'lock 34, while the latter are directed forwardly thereof. 7 i r Themeans for co'ntrolling these magnets' will be later described, but it is suificient'tostate at this time that when an armature plate 38 carried by the latch spring 29, is

drawn toward the. magnets 35, when the latter are energized said latch spring will release the pan, which being loaded and forwardly overbalanced, will dump its contents, at the same time engaging a trip 40 on the hopper valve and closing the latter.

lVhen the pan is in its lowermost or dumped position, the forward underside thereof engages the energized magnets 36 which prevent its return under influence of the weights carried thereby, until the electric circuits, in which said magnets are included, is interrupted in a manner to be described in full.

I will now refer to the clock controlling mechanism through which the various elements of my feeder are brought into operation and automatically restored to their initial position.

The clock frame 20, supported by the convergent arms 18 and containing a clock mechanism of the usual typeis provided at its front with an extension flange having an upper semi-circular slot 44 through which the clock bezel may be set in position over the face 45, which latter has printed thereon in usual-manner the numerals l to 12,

In addition to the central hour and minute posts opening l6 in the clock face, which is larger in diameter than usual to provide a clearance gap between the outer minute hand post, and the wall of said opening 4L6, said face is provided with a series of smaller openings arranged around said central opening L6. The minute hand 52 is spaced forwardly of the hour hand 5%, a greater distance than is usually the practice in the ordinary timepiece, and the endthereof is extended and terminally turned to a plane perpendicular to the body thereof, for the purpose of providing a wiping contact with a pair of diametrically opposed contacts 55, carried by the clock face and preferably arranged adjacent the hour numerals 6 and 12, said contacts being suitably insulated from the cloclr face,

Secured to each of the three corners of a triangular brass plate 98, carried by the rear face of the clock face, and insulated therefrom by an interposed sheet of insulating material such as rubber, is a post 56 .which passes forwardly through its alined opening on the clock face, but does not contact with the wall thereof. This provision for preventing electrical contact between the several posts 56 may of course be substituted by suitable insulating sleeves, this detail being within the skill of the ordinary electrician.

Each of the posts 56 carries on its outer threaded end, a nut 60 having a radial brass spring contact arm 62, arranged in the plane of the clock face the outer extremity of which arm is bent to provide a portion 64, elevated above the plane of the body portion thereof. Journaled on the extension 64 of each arm 62, is a contact wheel in the form of a four pointed star 66, alternate points 68 being of electrical conducting material while the others, 70, are non-conducting. The conducting points, (38, are electrically connected with the supporting post which carries the star.

Cooperating with each of the spring con tact arms, and secured to the face of the clock, is an arcuate strip 72, of suitable insulating material, such as rubber, said strip being provided with a series of notches 74, corresponding to the hour and half hour. The stars are frictionally held in position upon. their supports by coiled springs 78 which prevent their accidental rotary dis placement.

In the present construction, the usual alarm bell and operating mechanism are removed, and in place thereof I provide an electric bell 80, and the magnet 82, therefor, said magnet being included in an electric circuit 8&, which: includes the dry batteries 21. Electric conducting wires 86 and 88 are. electrically connected respectively with the posts with which the minute hand contacts and with the triangular metal insulated plate 98, the latter being electrically connected with the arms 62 carrying the stars, 66, and to one pole of each of the batteries.

The magnets 35 and 36 are arranged in multiple with the bell circuit being connected therewith by wires 88 and 90.

In operation, the arms 62 are set on the strips 72 corresponding to the hour or half hour of feeding and assuming that the chickens are fed at three periods in 24 hours, the small or hour hand will contact with each star twice during said 24 hours. In view of the fact that the chickens are fed only during the daylight period or between sunrise and simset it is necessary that only during one circuit of said hour hand that an electric circuit be completed through the alarm and operatin mechanism. It is to accomplishthis resu t that alternate points of said star are of non-conducting material.

hen the small or hour hand contacts with conducting portion or point of any star, and the large minute hand simultaneously engages either of the posts, the electric circuit is completed through the electric bell and through the upper and lower sets of electromagnets, the upper set releasing the pan and permitting it under influence of the weight of the feed therein, to duln said pan engaging the lower front set of magnets which retain it in lowered position until the circuit is broken by either of the hands snapping off their respective contacts.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved apparatus, it

will be seen that I provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient means for carrying out the objects of my invention, and while I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

From the foregoing description and operation of my invention it is believed that a full understanding thereof may be had.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:-

1. A chicken feeder comprising a tank, a supporting means on said tank, a dump pan pivot-ally mounted on said supporting means, below said tank, a clock mounted on said supporting means, electrical contacts on the face of said clock and cooperating with said contacts, an electric circuit adapted to be closed by said hands and including said con-..

tacts, an electric bell in said circuit, two sets of magnets on said supporting means andincluded in said circuits, means operated by one of said magnets for releasing said dumppan when said circuit is complete and said other magnet adapted to hold said pan in dumping position.

2. A time controlled electrically operated chicken feeding mechanism, comprising a dump pan, a releasing magnet, a holding magnet, a clock, a plurality of electrical contacts, on said clock, an electrical circuit including said magnets and said contacts, and clock hands for engaging said contacts and closing the electric circuit through said magnets. I

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, and an electrically cont-rolled alarm in said electrical circuit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FAY E. ROSE. 

